Mr. Bride:
It is D.D.D.
Mr. Marconi:
D.D.D.
Senator Smith:
That is the silent signal?
Mr. Marconi:
Yes, sir; that means "shut up."
Senator Smith:
All other stations must cease?
Mr. Marconi:
All other stations must cease.
Senator Smith:
But the danger signal, C.Q.D., is the recognized signal for a ship in distress?
Mr. Marconi:
Yes.
2494. You received a reply within three or four minutes, but you only know that from what -
- Mr. Phillips told me.
2495. Just what did he tell you'?
- He told me to go to the captain and report the Frankfurt.
2496. What do you mean by the Frankfurt?
- He was in communication with the Frankfurt, sir; he had sent the Frankfurt our position.
2497. Was the Frankfurt the first ship that picked up the C.Q.D.?
- Yes, sir.
2498. And you delivered that message to the captain?
- Yes, sir.
2499. Personally?
- Yes, sir.
2500. Where was he at the time?
- He was on the boat deck, sir.
2501. On the boat deck?
- Yes, sir.
2502. Not on the bridge?
- No, sir.
2503. The boat deck being the sun deck, or upper deck?
- Being the decks where the boats are.
2504. Where the lifeboats are.
- Yes, sir.
2505. What did he say in reply when you handed him this message?
- He wanted to know where she was, sir.
2506. Her latitude?
- And longitude, sir. I told him we would get that as soon as we could.
2507. What did you do then?
- I went back to the cabin with Mr. Phillips.
2508. What did you tell him?
- I told him I had reported to the captain.
2509. And the captain wished that the position of the boat should be ascertained?
- Mr. Phillips was waiting for the position of the boat then, sir.
2510. What was the next message received by Mr. Phillips?
- A reply from the Carpathia.
2511. A reply to the C.Q.D. call?
- Yes, sir.
2512. From the Carpathia?
- Yes, sir.
2513. Did the Carpathia give her location?
- Yes, sir; after she had obtained it from the bridge.
2514. What did the Carpathia message say?
- She sent her latitude and longitude and told him she was coming along as quickly as possible. She turned around and was steaming full speed, or words to that effect.
2515. That she had reversed her course?
- Yes, sir.
2516. And was steaming at full speed toward the Titanic?
- Yes, sir.
2517. What was done with this message?
- It was taken to the captain, sir. I took it to the captain.
2518. Where did you find him then?
- He was in the wheelhouse.
2519. What?
- In the wheelhouse, upon the bridge.
2520. In the pilot house?
- The wheelhouse.
2521. The wheelhouse?
- Yes, sir.
2522. On the bridge?
- Yes, sir.
2523. He could enter the wheelhouse from the bridge?
- Yes, sir.
2524. What did the captain say when you delivered that message?
- He came back with me to the cabin, sir.
2525. He came back with you to the cabin?
- Yes, sir.
2526. What took place?
- He asked Mr. Phillips what other ships he was in communication with, sir.
2527. He asked Mr. Phillips what other ships he was in communication with?
- Yes, sir.
2528. And what was said?
- He interrupted Mr. Phillips when Mr. Phillips was establishing communication with the Olympic, so he was told the Olympic was there.
2529. Then what took place, Mr. Bride?
- Why, he worked out the difference between the Carpathia's position and ours, sir.
2530. Who did?
- The captain.
2531. The captain worked out the difference?
- He roughly estimated it.
2532. Worked out the difference between the Carpathia's position and that of the Olympic?
- No; the Titanic.
2533. Between the Carpathia's position and that of the Titanic?
- Yes, sir.
2534. And then what occurred?
- He went out to the cabin then, and we still continued to exchange.
2535. He went out to the cabin?
- Yes, sir.
2536. And the operator continued what?
- To exchange messages, sir.
2537. To exchange messages?
- Yes, sir.
2538. What was the next message, so far as you can recollect?
- Well, after the Olympic, sir, we did not get any replies, and I asked Mr. Phillips outside - well, he went outside to see how they were getting on, and I took the phones.
2539. I understand from you that the first response to the C.Q.D. call of distress was from the Frankfurt?
- Yes, sir.
2540. What line of boats?
- German line, as far as I can remember, sir.
Mr. Marconi:
The North German Lloyd.
2541. Did you receive any other communication from the Frankfurt?
- Not then, sir. We had transmitted to the Frankfurt our position, but we had received nothing from him in return.
2542. You transmitted to the Frankfurt your position in the sea?
- Yes, sir.
2543. And never received any further acknowledgment?
- He told us to stand by, sir. That means to wait.
2544. The Frankfurt told you to stand by?
- Yes, sir.
2545. Does that mean "I am coming?"
- It means wait; he is coming back again.
2546. Where was the Frankfurt headed for?
- I believe she was bound east, sir; but I can not say for certain.
2547. Had you been in communication with the Frankfurt during that day or the preceding day?
- I can not say, sir, as to that.
2548. What is your best recollection about it?
- I can not say, sir. We were in communication with several ships during the afternoon and evening.
2549. Is it impossible for you to recall whether you had any communication from the Frankfurt, or sent any to her, at any time during the voyage from Southampton to the place of this collision?
- I do not think there was any communication established with the Frankfurt before we sent the distress signal, sir.
2550. Did you pick up any message from the Frankfurt intended for any other operator?
- No, sir.
2551. Do you know what the Frankfurt's position was when she received the C.Q.D. call?
- That is what we were waiting for, sir.
2552. Did you ever ascertain?
- No, sir.
2553. Did anyone say in your hearing that they thought the Frankfurt was in closer proximity to the Titanic than any other ship?
- Yes, sir; Mr. Phillips told me so.
2554. Who said that?
- Mr. Phillips told me that, judging by the strength of the signals received from the two ships, the Frankfurt was the nearer.
2555. Did Mr. Phillips tell you that he was trying to establish such communication with the Frankfurt as would bring that ship to your relief?
- Well, Mr. Phillips was under the impression that when the Frankfurt had heard the C.Q.D. and got our position, he would immediately make it known to his commander and take further steps. Apparently he did not.
2556. Did the captain of the Titanic make any personal reference to that matter to you, or within your hearing, or to Mr. Phillips?
- No, sir; he asked us where the Frankfurt was, but we told him we could not tell him.
2557. But from the force of the current, Mr. Phillips gathered that the Frankfurt was the nearer ship?
- Yes, sir.
2558. And the fact that it was the first to respond was rather confirmatory of that?
- No, sir; it would not be.
2559. It would not be?
- No, sir.
2560. Did any officer on the Titanic at any time express the hope that the Frankfurt would come first to their relief?
- No, sir.
2561. Did you have any other communication with the Frankfurt after that ship responded to the distress call?
- Yes, sir.
2562. What was it?
- He called us up at a considerably long period afterwards and asked us what was the matter.
2563. How long after?
- I should say it would be considerably over 20 minutes afterwards.
2564. Twenty minutes after the message giving your position, the position of the Titanic -
- And the C.Q.D.
2565. (Continuing.) And the C.Q.D. distress call, you got another message from the Frankfurt saying, "What is the matter?"
- Yes, sir.
2566. Did they say anything else?
- He merely inquired, sir, as to what was the matter with us.
2567. To that message what did you say?
- I think Mr. Phillips responded rather hurriedly.
2568. What did he say? I would like to know?
- Well, he told him to the effect that he was a bit of a fool.
2569. Just give it in his language.
- Well, he told him he was a fool, sir.
2570. Is that all?
- Yes, sir.
2571. Did be preface that word with anything more severe?
- No, Sir.
2572. Did Mr. Phillips then tell him what was the matter?
- No, sir.
2573. Did he have any further communication with the Frankfurt?
- No, sir. He told him to stand by, sir - finish.
2574. In the interim you had got into communication with the Carpathia?
- And the Olympic.
2575. And the Olympic?
- Yes, sir.
2576. Both of whom assured you they were coming?
- Yes, sir.
2577. To your relief?
- Yes, sir.
2578. To what line does the Olympic belong?
- White Star, sir.
2579. And the Carpathia belongs to the Cunard Line?
- The Cunard; yes, sir.
2580. Did you ever learn the position of the Frankfurt?
- No, sir.
2581. After she had first responded to your call?
- No, sir.
2582. Did Mr. Phillips ask for it?
- Yes, sir.
2583. How often?
- When she first answered our C.Q.D. he said, "Go and get your position." The Frankfurt replied "Stand by."
2584. Did the Frankfurt at that time know your position?
- Yes, sir.
2585. What was your interpretation of "stand by," in that connection?
- To wait for his position and what he was going to do about the matter.
2586. Did you ever get the position of the Frankfurt?
- No, sir.
2587. Did Mr. Phillips?
- No, sir.
2588. Did you and Mr. Phillips talk about it?
- Yes, sir.
2589. What did you say to one another about it?
- We expressed our opinions of the operator on the Frankfurt.
2590. Was it critical?
- Yes, sir.
2591. And uncomplimentary?
- Very.
2592. Was it based upon any knowledge or suspicion that the operator was personally derelict in his duty?
- Yes, sir.
2593. Was it based upon any suspicion that the Frankfurt had not responded to this distress call as that ship should have done?
- Yes, sir.
2594. Was it a matter of deep regret between you and Mr. Phillips?
- Well, it was at the time when the Frankfurt asked us what the matter was with us, because we realized then that we were getting into - we realized what had happened to the ship.
2595. But you realized at that time that all the lives on that ship depended upon getting relief from some other vessel?
- At the time the Frankfurt asked us what was the matter with us; yes, sir.
2596. After you told him that he was a fool, did you tell him the ship was going down?
- No, sir; we told him to stand by, sir, to keep out of it.
2597. Keep out of what?
- Not to interfere with his instrument, sir; because we were in communication with the Carpathia, and we knew that the Carpathia was the best thing doing.
2598. Did you tell that to the operator of the Frankfurt?
- No, sir.
2599. When you said "Keep out of it," could that be interpreted as in any way changing the first distress call?
- Merely told him not to interfere with our communications.
2600. He had not responded as you felt he ought to respond?
- Yes, sir.
2601. He had not indicated that they were coming?
- No, sir.
2602. He had impressed you with the lack of appreciation for your situation? Stop me if I am not interpreting you correctly; I am summarizing what you have said. Am I correct about that?
- It struck me so - that he did not seem to be able to realize the position we were in.
2603. And you are quite sure that you gave him all the information necessary?
- We made it very clear to him.
2604. You mean in referring to the condition you were in, you referred to the sinking of the Titanic?
- If you call C.Q.D. and give your position, then there is no necessity for another ship to inquire further into the matter, if he is coming to your assistance, because you could not call C.Q.D. unless you were in need of assistance.
2605. Now, C.Q.D. was the strongest language that you could use under your wireless regulations to apprise any station that you needed help immediately; is that right?
- Any operator hearing a C.Q.D., giving a ship's position, when on the job would immediately, without inquiring further into the matter, go to his captain and inform his captain. It would be a waste of time asking anything about it. The less time spent in talking, the more time can be spent in getting to the ship.
2606. (The last question was read by the reporter.)
- We could not send anything more than C.Q.D.
2607. (Senator Smith.) After you told this operator he was a fool, and 20 minutes had gone by, did you tell him that your ship was sinking?
- No, sir.
2608. Did you give him any additional information?
- No, sir. He ought not to have wanted any in the first place.
2609. Upon the information you did give him, are you ready to say whether the ship responded or not?
- There ought not to have been any doubt about the information we gave him at all, sir; he ought to have known what to do with it immediately.
2610. So far as you know, the Frankfurt did not respond?
- No, sir.
2611. Will you tell us what confirmation you have that the operator of the Frankfurt received your C.Q.D. distress call correctly?
- Mr. Phillips had the telephones on at the time, sir. He called "C.Q.D." The Frankfurt answered. He gave the Frankfurt our position. He said, "Come at once." The Frankfurt said, "Stand by." We waited, and that is the last we heard of the Frankfurt until he said, "What was the matter with you?" a considerable period afterwards.
2612. After he said, "What was the matter with you?" then what was said?
- We told him he was a fool, sir.
2613. Was that the last thing you said to him?
- To the Frankfurt, yes, sir.
2614. You recall that you said later to him to keep out, not to interfere with your insulation, or
- We told him to keep out and not interfere with our communication.
2615. Was that all in the one message?
- That was all in the one message.
2616. "You are a fool. Keep out and do not interfere with our communication."
- Yes, sir.
2617. That was all in the one message?
- Yes, sir.
2618. And that was the last thing you said to the Frankfurt?
- Yes, sir.
2619. Now, did you see the Frankfurt in the vicinity of the wreck of the Titanic, or after you were taken on board the Carpathia?
- The only ship I saw, sir, was the Carpathia.
2620. Do you know whether the Carpathia had any communication of any kind from the Frankfurt?
- No, sir; I can not say.
2621. You could not say?
- No, sir.
2622. While you were at the key, or at the apparatus, no message was received from the Frankfurt?
- No, sir.
Senator Smith:
I think right there I would like to ask Mr. Cottam one or two questions.
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